Cooling bed apparatus



Jan. 18, 1955 J. M. O'MALLEY ETAL 2,699,684

COOLING BED APPARATUS 2 Shegts-Sheet 1 Filed March 28, 1952 INVENTORS JOSEPH M. OMALLEY BYWILLIAM J. H114. M

ATTORNEY COOLING BED APPARATUS Filed March 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Shqet 2 INVENTORS JOSEPH M. OMALLEY y WILLIAM J. HILL United States Patent COOLING BED APPARATUS Joseph M. OMalley and William J. Hill, Worcester, Mass., assignors to Morgan Construction Company, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 28, 1952, Serial No. 279,126

11 Claims. (Cl. 74-99) This invention relates to cooling bed apparatus and more particularly to a mechanism for transmitting reciprocatory motion to elements of a carryover bed for cooling hot metal bars and rods.

In the operation of carryover cooling beds it is customary to provide a series of packing arms for forming a number of bars into a pack in order that the pack may be subsequently carried across the cooling bed without cooling taking place too rapidly in any one bar. In order that each bar may slide properly from the packing arm onto such a pack of bars, it is preferable to impart to the packing arm a cycle of motions; this cycle consists first of a period of constant-velocity upward motion, followed by a period of rest, and then a return to the initial position. This motion is imparted to the packing arm by a vertical push rod, there being a number of push rods throughout the length of the bed serving a very large number of packing arms. It is desirable to impart the desired motion of the push rods by connecting them through crank arms to a common horizontal actuating member connected in turn to the source of the desired motion, which sourceis mounted at one end of the cooling bed. This means that the actuating member must extend throughout the entire length of the cooling bed and therefore is subject to considerable heat. The expansion of such an elongated member due to the heat leads to the end of the crank arm being moved not only by the reciprocatory motion imparted to the actuating member, but also by the expansion of that member. The net result is that the positions of the packing arm cannot be determined with the necessary degree of nicety and, furthermore, the positions of the packing arm vary with the changes in temperature of the actuating member.

It is therefore an outstanding object of the present invention to provide a means for transmitting reciprocatory motion to the packing arm of a cooling bed, whereby said motion is not effected by changes in temperature around the cooling bed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a motion transmitting means for use with a cooling bed wherein the quality of transmission is not effected by changes in temperature.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for compensating for the changes in length due to temperature variations of an elongated metal motion transmitting member. i

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of an apparatus for moving the rocking arms of a cooling bed simultaneously from a single source of the required motion.

With these and other objects in view, as will be appar ent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto. v

Referring to the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a view of a packing arm of a cooling bed and associated apparatus taken transversely of the bed along the line 11 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is an elevation view of the packing arms and associated equipment of a cooling bed taken longitudinally of the bed with portions broken away.

Figure 3 is an enlarged portion of Figure 2, showing some of the details of construction of the apparatus,

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the apparatus of the invention taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, wherein is shown the general aspects of the invention, the apparatus, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, is shown connected to the packing arm 11 of a cooling bed, not shown. The packing arm is mounted adjacent the carryover members of the cooling bed in a well-known manner; the arm is mounted for swinging; motion about a shaft 12 which extends longitudinally of the cooling bed. A vertical link 13 is pivotally attached at one end to the packing arm on an axis considerably removed from the axis of the shaft 12, the link 13 being provided with a turnbuckle adjustment 14. The other end of the link 13 is pivotally connected to a crank arm 15 for movement about a longitudinal axis. The other end of the crank arm 15 is keyed to a longitudinal shaft 16 to which is also keyed a crank arm 17. The crank arm 17 is universally connected to the upper end of a vertical push rod 18 the lower end of which is provided with a turnbuckle 19 for adjustment of its length. As is indicated in Figure 2, there are considerably more packing arms actuated from the shaft 16 than there are push rods to actuate that shaft. However, it is necessary to provide push rods at various spaced points and, in order to actuate the push rods from a single source of the required motion, an elongated actuating member 20 is provided. This member 20 runs the full length of the cooling bed longitudinally thereof and is in the form of an inverted channel. A base member 21 underlies the actuating member 20 and supports it. In the preferred embodiment, the base member is an I-beam which is positioned with its web in a vertical position and its flanges extending horizontally. Relative motion between the actuating member 2i) and the base member is permitted by the provision of cylindrical rollers 22 which lie Within the closure formed by the channel and the uppermost flange or surface of the base member. Each roller 22 is restricted to a limited area by the provision of webs 23 fastened across the channel. This feature is best illustrated in Figure 5. The base member 21 is fastened by bolts 24 or the like to the fixed foundation 25 adjacent the source 26 of the required motion which is also fastened to the foundation 25. The base member is guided throughout its length by a number of guide members 27 which are fastened to the foundation and embrace the lower flange and the lower portion of the web, as is illustrated in Figure 5. The guide members are fastened to the foundation. A place 28 underlies the guide members and provides a surface for sliding movement of the base member. The source 26 of the required motion may be any one of a number of mechanisms and its specific construction forms no part of the present invention. It is attached to the end of the actuating member 20 in order to impart its motion thereto.

Referring next to Figures 3 and 4, a yoke 29 is fastened to the base member 21 in association with each push rod 18. Each yoke comprises two halves 30, the lower portions of which are bolted to the web of the base member and the upper portions of which are bolted to each other. The intermediate portions of the two halves are spaced apart. and straddle the base member 21 to form a window 31 through which extend, among other things, the actuating member 26. In the upper portion of the window 31 a journal shaft 32 is mounted so as to extend there across in a direction transversely of the actuating member and the cooling bed. On the journal shaft is rotatably mounted a bell crank 33 having two arms 34 and 35 arranged at a right side. The bell crank is capable, then, of rotative movement in a vertical plane longitudinal of the cooling bed. The journal shaft passes through the bell crank in the vicinity of the junction of the two arms and arm 34 generally assumes a horizontal position, while the arm 35 extends vertically downwardly. The outer end of the arm 34 is pivotally attached to a clevis 36 which, in turn, is attached to the lower end of the push rod 18. The outer end of the arm 35 is connected at a pivot 39 to a link 37 which extends generally parallel to the top surface of the actuating member in the same direction as the arm 34. The outer end of the link 37 is pivotally connected to the actuating member 20 by means of a mounting member 38 welded or otherwise fastened to the upper surface of the actuating member.

The operation ,of ,the invention will now be evident from the above description. .Thebenefic'ial results of the present .devicereside in the factthat'thebase member '21 which carries the pivot journal of the crank arm '33 is boltedto'the foundation at one end only at a point closely adjacent to the spot where'the source 26 ofthe movementis attached. This means that'the actuating member '20 'an'dt'he basemeniber'fl will expand and contract with temperature changes, but they will nevertheless remain in 'thes'arne positions relative to one another. The desired motion offthe'packing arm, which motion originates in the source 26,is'impart'edtothe actuating member and is superimposedon any motion dueto temperature change. Th'e'reciprocatory motion 'ofthe actuating member acts throughthe link 37' to'move the end of the arm 35 through a'relativelysmall angle of rotation-in a generally'horizontal plane. Thisproduc'esthe same amount of rotation in the arm 34,"but in a generally vertical direction. This imparts a reciprocatory motion to the push rod 18, which acts through the crank arm 17 to rotate the shaft 16. The rotation 'of'the shaft 16 causes a similar rotation of the crankarm 15 producing a vertical, reciprocatory motion in the link '13 "and the packing arm '11 Now, if the journal 32, about which'the crank 'arm33 rotates, where mounted in more or less fixed relation to the foundation, it =would'remain fixed during temperature changes, while the point of attachmentof the arm 35 to the actuating member "would be moving longitudinally with temperature variations. In other Words,'the-position of the packing arm would depend on the position in the cycle of movement originating-in the'source 26 plus the amount of expansion of the actuating member. In the practice of the present invention, the journalis mounted on a base member which expands in exactly the same manner as the :actuating member, so that the journal and the end of the'arm 35*move along-together during changes in temperature andthe only change in their relative positions is due .to the motion imparted 'to the actuating member by the source 26. There will be a slight longitudinal movement of the lower end of the push rod 18 due to the changes in length of theactuating member and the base member with temperature changes, but the effect on the packing arm'position'will be negligible.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed'as new'and desired to secure-by Letters Patent'is:

1. An actuating mechanism for a cooling bed, comprising: an elongated base member attached at one end to a'fixedfoundation and slidably and horizontally supported throughout the remainder of its length, a source'of power attached to the fixed foundation adjacent the point of attachment of said base member, a elongated actuating member-supported adjacent to said base member for slidable motion thereover, said actuating member being attached to the sourceiof power and movable thereby for reciprocatory motion relative-tothe said fixed foundation, a yoke attached'to saidbase member and extending upwardly therefrom, a "bell crank pivotally 'supported'in its intermediate portion on said yoke, one'extremity-of the bell crank'being connectedto the actuatingmember, and anelongated, generally'vertical push rod attached to'the other extremity of the bell crank.

2. An actuating mechanism for a cooling bed, comprising: an-elongated base member attached at one end to a fixed foundation and supported for horizontal movement, a source of power attached to thefixed foundation adjacent the point of attachment of said'base member thereto,an elongated actuating member overlying and supported by'said base member'for slidable motion relative thereto, said actuating member being attached to the source of power to receive reciprocatory motion therefrom relative to the fixed foundation, a yoke attached i to said .base member and extending upwardly therefrom around the actuating member, .a bell crank pivotally mounted at itsintermediate portion on said yoke, said :bell crank having one legextending 'ina generally horizontal direction and havinganother legextendinggenerallyvertically,. saidone leg being connected .to the actuating .memher and the other being connected to a vertical push rod.

3. .An apparatus .for actuating the packing arm of a cooling bed, comprising: an elongated base memberattached at .oneend onlyto afixed foundation and having afiat upper surface which'lies in a generally horizontal plane, the base member being guided for longitudinal movement due to thermal expansion, an elongated actuating member overlying the upper surface of the base member and supported thereby for longitudinal motion, a source of power attached to the fixed foundation adjacent the place of attachment .of .said base member thereto, said actuating member "being "attached to the source of power to receive eazreciprocatory:longitudinal movement therefrom relative to the fixed foundation, a yoke fixed to said base :member and extending :upwardly therefrom, .a bell crank having two :legs extending ;at a right angle mounted on said yokeiforzpivotalmotion about :an axis passing through the junction of the two legs, one of said legs extending'generally vertically and attached to said actuating member, the other of saidlegs extending generally horizontally and attached to "a generally vertical push rod connected to a packing arm of the cooling bed.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein rollers are interposed between thefia't upper surface of the base member and the actuating member.

5. An apparatus as recitecl'in claim 3wherein the yoke straddles the flat upper surface 'of'th'e base member and the actuating memberpasses thereunder.

*6. An apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein the vertically-extendinglegofthe bell crank is connected to {hek'actuating member through a generally horizontal 7. An apparatus for actuatingthe packing arms of a cooling bed, comprising: an elongated base member attached at one 'end only'to a fixed foundation and -havingatflatupper surface which'lies in a generallyhorizontal plane, 'a plurality of guides embracingthe "base member for longitudinal movement due'to thermal expansion, an elongated actuating memberoverlying the "upper surface or the base member :and supported thereby :for longitudinal 'motion,a source'of power attachedto the fixed foundation :adjacent the place of "attachment of said 'base member thereto, said'actuatingmernber being attachedto the source of -rnovernentandrnovable thereby in -'areciprocatory longitudinal motion relative to the fixed foundation, a plurality of yokesjfixed to said base member at .various'positions along-its length 'andextending upwardly therefrom, a'bellcrank'mounted'oneach-yoke andhaving two legs extending:at a right angle, each *bell Jcrank'being mounted on its yoke for pivotal motion about an axis passing through the :area of intersection of the two legs, one 'of said legs extending generally "vertically 'and attached to said actuating member, the other of said legs extending generally horizontally andattached to 'agencrally vertical'push rod'connected'to the'packing'armszofthe cooling bed.

8. An apparatus for'actuatingthe packing arms .of a cooling -bed, comprising: an elongated'base member attached 'at one end only me fixed foundation and having a flat upper surface which liesin agenerally horizontal plane, a plurality of guides embracingthe 'basemember for longitudinal movement due to thermal expansion, an elongated actuating'member:overlyingthe-upper surface'of the base member and supported thereby for longitudinal motion, the actuating member partaking :of the same thermal expansion-movement"as the base membergrollers interposedbetweenthe fiat-upper-surfaceof the'base member'and the actuating-member, asourcezofpower-attached to the fixed foundation adjacent the place of 'attachment of'said'basemember thereto, said actuating member ,being attached to the source of power to receive t reciprocatory longitudinal motion therefrom relative to the fixed foundation, said longitudinal movement being'in addition to the abovementioned-thermal expansion movement, a plurality of yokesfixed to said base member and extending upwardly therefrom, each yoke straddling the fiat upper surface of the-base=member.and=the actuatingmember, a bell crank mounted 'oneach' yoke, each crank having two legs-extending ata right angle to one another'and being mounted on its respective yoke for-pivotal motion tached t9 the fixed foundation adjacent one end of the actuating member, said actuating member being attached to the source of power to receive reciprocatory longitudinal motion therefrom relative to the fixed foundation, a plurality of yokes extending upwardly from the foundation, each yoke straddling the actuating member, a bell crank mounted on each yoke, each crank havnig two legs extending at a right angle to one another in a vertical plane longitudinally of the cooling bed and being mounted on its respective yoke for pivotal motion about an axis passing through the area of the intersection of the two legs, one of said legs extending generally vertically and being attached through a link to said actuating member, the other of said legs extending generally horizontally and being attached to a generally vertical push rod connected to the packing arms of the cooling bed for the actuation of said arms.

10. An apparatus for actuating the packing arms of a cooling bed, comprising: a base member having a fiat upper surface which lies in a generally horizontal plane, said base member being capable of movement due to thermal expansion, and elongated actuating member overlying the upper surface of the base member and supported thereby for longitudinal motion, the actuating member partaking of the same thermal expansion movement as the base member, rollers interposed between the flat upper surface of the base member and the actuating member, a source of power attached to a fixed foundation, said actuating member being attached to the source of power to receive reciprocatory longitudinal movement therefrom relative to the fixed foundation, said longitudinal movement being in addition to the above-mentioned thermal expansion movement, a plurality of yokes fixed to said base member and extending upwardly therefrom, each yoke straddling the actuating member, a bell crank mounted on each yoke, each crank having two legs extending at a right angle to one another and being mounted on its respective yoke for pivotal motion about an axis passing through the area of the intersection of the two legs, one of said legs extending generally vertically and attached through a link to said actuating member, the other of said legs extending generally horizontally and attached to a generally vertical push rod connected to the packing arms of the cooling bed. for the actuation of said arms.

ll. An apparatus for actuating the packing arms of a cooling bed, comprising: an elongated actuating member supported for longitudinal motion, the actuating member being subject to thermal expansion a source of power attached to a fixed foundation, said actuating member being attached to the source of power to receive reciprocatory longitudinal motion therefrom relative to the fixed foundation, said longitudinal movement being in addition to the above-mentioned thermal expansion movement, a plurality of yokes, each yoke straddling the actuating member, means causing each yoke to follow its respective portion of the actuating member during changes of position relative to the fixed foundation due to thermal expansion only, a bell crank mounted on each yoke, each crank having two legs extending at a right angle to one another and being mounted on its respective yoke for pivotal motion about an axis passing through the area of the in tersection of the two legs, one of said legs extending generally vertically and attached through a link to said actuating member, the other of said legs extending generally horizontally and attached to a generally vertical push rod connected to the packing arms of the cooling bed for the actuation of said arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 870,592 Smitmans Nov. 12, 1907 1,021,582 Daniels Mar. 26, 1912 1,407,169 Rosenkranz Feb. 21, 1922 2,332,905 Fisk et al. Oct. 26, 1947 

